LAS MESAS, HONDURASWater Supply and Distribution Project, 2012

BackgroundLas Mesas is an isolated community of around 500 people close to the Honduras-Nicaragua border. The village is a 45 minute drive from the nearest town on a dirt road that requires four-wheel drive.

The NeedThe residents of Las Mesas already had a gravity-fed water distribution system in place that provided relatively safe water, but the water board of Las Mesas had some concerns about it. First, residents of the village were still getting sick, and it was revealed that the water board lacked the knowledge of how to test chlorine levels in the system. Second, the spring catchment, which is the only source of the gravity-fed distribution system, was exposed to roaming livestock. Lastly, the water board was concerned about preserving the integrity of the storage tank from local coffee farmers, who might have been contaminating the water by refilling their pesticide containers in the tank. In 2012, EfID partnered with the Damascus Road Community Church of Maryland, who had worked with the Las Mesas community for over two decades, to help address the community's needs.

EfID ResponseIn August of 2012, two EfID students traveled with several members of the Damascus Road Community Church to address the water board’s three concerns. Their first task was to provide technical training in proper chlorination techniques. This included explaining the importance of chlorine, how it interacts with water, the necessary concentrations to prevent disease, and how to test chlorine levels in the system. After chlorine workshops and field training sessions, correct chlorine levels were measured in the distribution system and all members of the water board possessed the knowledge to maintain these levels in the future. The board’s second two concerns were both solved through containing the area with fencing. This could not have been done without the help of several members of the community; 375 linear feet of fencing was building around the spring catchment, and 100 feet were installed around the tank. Additionally, the tank access point was chained and locked to prevent access to the water inside.

Project ConclusionThe Damascus Road Community Church has worked with the Las Mesas village in Honduras for many years, and over time they have built up a number of support teams for the people of this community the areas of health, home construction, orphanage assistance, family adoption, and micro business. EfID was excited to be part of this effort and teach the Las Mesas water board how to maintain healthy water for the future.